5 Critically Endangered Animals Your Children May Never See

5 Critically Endangered Animals Your Children May Never See

Our planet is on the precipice of yet another mass extinction that could wipe out around 75% of Earth’s wildlife; an unparalleled biotic extinction unlike any other in 65 million years!

Skeletal remains of the Sumatran rhino

Do you know that more than half of the wildlife population on Earth hasdied out in the past 4 decades? Poaching, wildlife trafficking, global warming and loss of habitat are all the factors that have led to the creation of a living hell on Earth for animals.

First, a little bit about NWD; National Wildlife Day serves not just as a day of appreciation for wildlife sanctuaries, the blessings of Mother Nature and the diversity of fauna; it is areminder of the atrocitiescommitted against the co-inhabitants of our planet and a plea for us to not turn a blind eye and address the issues faced, today.

Here are 5 incredible creatures that are teetering on the brink of extinction:

Orangutan, Bornean “People of the Forest”

The friendly orangutans are threatened in the wild

Arboreal (tree-living) creatures with blood-fire fur, the Bornean orangutans makes the list because its population hasdropped a mortifying 60%since 1950 and is projected to decline even further in under a decade.

There are some instances in nature where evolution works against a species; orangutans, with the longest birth interval of land mammals, is an unfortunate example. That, coupled with illegal hunting and habitat loss, turns the situation from serious to severe.

Hawksbill Turtle, the Underwater Landscape Gardeners

Unsafe in its own natural habitat

The Hawksbill turtle might live a majority of its time underwater, but that doesn’t stop it from being in the crosshairs of poachers, falling victim toillegal traffickingdue to the demand for shells, meat and eggs. Some cultures believe sea turtle eggs to be an aphrodisiac, whereas others believe that eating them will increase longevity.

Known as akeystone species, Hawksbills areunderwater landscape gardeners, tending to seagrass beds and maintaining the health of coral reefs. Imagine what havoc would be wreaked on the ecosystem if the turtles are all gone?

Roaming the jungles of the Malayan Peninsula and southern edge of Thailand, these ferocious beauties are teetering on the brink ofextinction in the wildas they are threatened byloss of habitatandhuman-wildlife conflict.

Please do not let thesetigersfollow the footsteps of the Bali tiger, Javan tiger and the Caspian tiger – all of which are NO LONGER roaming the Earth.

Sumatran Elephant, Keepers of the Forest

Sumatran elephants are playful, loving and motherly

Nature is interdependent and balanced. Factor in human intervention and that upheaves all balance in the ecosystem. Threatened by rapid developments and unbridled deforestation, the Sumatran elephants are helpless in the face of modernity.

The Sumatran Elephant plays an important role in keeping the health of the forest in check yet all efforts are counteracted by deforestation; its diminishing population (declining bya devastating 80%in less than 25 years) only serves to add fuel to fire.

Sumatran Rhinos, Asian Two-Horned Rhinoceros

Two-horned rhino without its horns; a sad sight

Imagine being in a world where there are only 100 people left – and you are one of them. It is almost impossible to fathom, isn’t it? Unfortunately for the Sumatran rhinos, this isTHEIR REALITY.

A dismal population left on Earth, they are clinging on for survival though the future looks bleak. They are threatened byillegal trafficking and genetic loss; their horns are in great demand especially in Asian countries as they are used as traditional medicine. The Vietnamese even believe that it could cure cancer – a rumour that’s as lethal as a poacher’s rifle.

We Beseech You, the Reader

If you want to be the change the world needs, an advocate of wildlife or a silent supporter for animals incapable of combating the tide of devastation,support WWFandother like-minded organisationsby donating or adopting an animal. Also, if you’d like to visit some of these animals in wildlife sanctuaries, check outAdventoro, for travel consultancy services and wildlife tours.